The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-11-19
FRENCH CRIMINALS.
How They Live and Prosper In the Penal
Colony of New Caledonia

Colony of New Caledonia.
An interesting account of the present
status Of notorious French criminals In
New Caledonia has been furnished by
an official who has just returned from
that penal colony. The most respec-
table, as well as the senior. of all the
convicts is Berezovski, the Pole who
fired at Emperor Alexander II, during
the Paris exhibition OF 1867. Frequent
applications have been made for the
liberation of Berezovski, but they have
all been refused. He is now on the
Island Of Nou. where he occupies a
little room apart from all the bad
characters, and has even small gar
den for himself. He roams about tho
island, which Is one-fourth the size OF
Paris, at his own sweet will. and his
conduct has always been irreproach-
able. He receives large quantity OF
newspapers. books and pamphlets from
different countries by every mail.
Berezovski is now old and feeble
to an extreme degree. OF different
class are Giles and Abadic. the
murderers Of the Paris grocer Le-
cercle. These worthless are employed
as street scavengers at Noumea, and
their occupation is looked upon by their
companions in penal servitude as q
good one. for it Is easy. and also en-
ables them to pick up bits Of tobacco
and various odds and ends. including
occasional aims. Pei. who poisoned his
servant at Montreuil, and then burned
her remains in stove. died in the be-
ginning Of the year, as we'll as Moyaux.
who murdered his own daughter.
Guichard, who murdered a bank-mes-
senger at Marseilles, is doing we'll as a
store clerk, and hopes one day, II not
to get to Australia, Mt least to settle
down In New Caledonia as colonist.
One of the most comfortable and
thriving Of the convicts is Fenayrou.
the chemist Of the Boulevard Malesher-
bes, who led the lover Of his wife into
an ambush at Chatou, and then muir.
dered him in most atrocious manner.
This criminal has passed through the
various catagories until he arrived
among the first-class convicts. He ha'
share in the farm which he and hi
wife superintend, and he has under hi
orders some Of the lower class o.
criminals. His life sentence has beer
committed to one Of twenty years. Th'
doctor who was condemned last yea
for having sent poisoned game TO I
colleague is giving satisfaction in thu
colony, and hopes to be able to attail
the privileges accorded to fenayrou
On the whole, the educated criminals
even those who are undergoing sen
fences Of serious crimes, are highl.
spoken Of by the Governor of Noumea
and the most unmitigated rascals ar
the Paris gamins and the british peas
ants, or laborers, most Of whom ar
murderers. Every year certain mum
Der of these has to be shot down by tn
warders. The official who uses his re
volver against the convicts is tried a
formality by court-martial and &C
Quilted. The number OF convicts
10, 900 or more. and there are in add
ton 240 female convicts, who, how
ever, were sent out to Noumea OF thei
own accord from the Maison Central
Of Paris. for the purpose OF marryin
. first-class misdemeanants. These We
!, men are supervised by nuns. Ther
are on the island 900 Warden
The number Of first-class .convic'
amounts to 1000, and some Of then
,, like Fenayrou. have been allowed
send for their wives. The Sta
. furnishes them with agricultural In
Elements, food, and even few head
cattle, when they are permitted to begl
farming, and they generally contri'
! to do well. Another class, apart fro
:. all others, is composed Of skilled trade
: men and mechanics, musicians, an
. even actors. These have saving
:. bank Of their own, kind OF club. an
are almost too prosperous for convict
The bandsmen are said to be as goo
> as many regimental performers, ar
I. they play programs Of select mus
= before the Governors mansion twi'
!. q week, besides giving occasional Co
. certs. From this it will be seen tn
!. the life Of many convicts is far bett
= than that which is led by thousands
the slums Of Paris, and 1t is no wond
that such being the case numero
transgressors against the law
" the land. including those wi
= commit the most terrible crimes, shou
: view with longing and delight the
. dispatch to New Caledonia by Z
= clement mandate Of the President
!. the Republic Cor. Chicago Illness